About Us

 

Sue’s Story

In 2005, Sue Owen underwent treatment for breast cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation followed by five years of an aromatose-inhibiting drug.  After her treatment, and with the encouragement of the breast care nurses and oncology nurses at Canberra’s Calvary Hospital who observed the way she helped other ladies with turbans and scarves, Sue started making plans for a small service in late 2009.

HeadsUp@Calvary (renamed as HeadsUp@Bruce Inc in April 2011) was opened by Sue at Calvary Hospital in Bruce, ACT on 3rd February 2010 with her former oncology nurse Marg Quodling, and the service was officially launched on 23rd March 2010.  

On 2nd December 2010 HeadsUp Australia Incorporated was created.  HeadsUp Australia’s role is to provide seed funding, support and training for any other community group who would like to open their own HeadsUp outlet.  Contact us for details.

Since its humble origins in a shared office in Calvary Hospital, HeadsUp has grown at such a rate that it has had its own attractive retail space since September 2013 along with a new name: HeadsUp Kippax Inc.

The shop is located in Scott Chambers in the Canberra shopping precinct of Kippax: Shop 2, 12-16 Hardwick Crescent, Holt ACT 2615) - just off Flack Street near the Ampol service station. 

In 2019 HeadsUp Kippax became a Registered Charity and, as a result, is listed as a Deductible Gift Recipient. This means that donations of $2 or more can be claimed as a tax deduction.  Click here to make a donation or visit our Support Us page.

The ABC heard about Sue and the team of trained volunteers at HeadsUp Kippax in 2019 and visited to create a story that was published online and also broadcast on ABC Canberra and across the country on ABC24.

Read what others have said in our Feedback page.

Sue is still heavily involved in HeadsUp and is at the shop almost every day it's open.  Visit the shop and meet her to understand her passion for this cause.

In the 2023 King's Birthday Honours List, Sue was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her services to Community Health. Read the article in the Yass Tribune by clicking here.